A judge in Washington County Circuit Court determined Friday morning that a Hillsboro police officer's actions at the scene of a traffic stop of a suspected impaired driver constituted "significant misconduct," but were not criminal.

Hillsboro Police Officer Robert Alec Ward, 48, was accused of throwing two beer cans while on duty at Martin Chan-Machic, who was riding as a passenger in the suspect's car. He was charged with one count of physical harassment, one count of attempted physical harassment, one count of fourth-degree assault and three counts of second-degree official misconduct stemming from the incident that occurred April 18, 2010, according to court records.

During a bench trial Friday, he was acquitted of all charges. "Summary: Really bad police work," said Judge Michael McElligott, a retired Washington County judge who heard the case. "No crime."

After the decision, Ward embraced his attorney Jaime Goldberg and his friends and family members, who filled the courtroom. They wiped away tears as they hugged him. "It's over," Ward said to himself.

On April 19, the day after the incident, Ward was placed on paid administrative leave, said Lt. Mike Rouches, Hillsboro police spokesman. He's been on unpaid administrative leave since Dec. 7.

Rouches said now that the criminal case is closed, the department will conduct an internal investigation, which will take several weeks to complete. The department did not release information about Ward's being criminally charged because its members couldn't say much about case, Rouches said.

During the one and a half day trial, Senior Assistant Attorney General Rachel Bridges, who prosecuted the case, argued that Ward intended to hit Chan-Machic, who was standing near the trunk of the car, with the cans and that the action was an unreasonable use of force. The first can Ward threw, Bridges said, struck Chan-Machic and the second can struck the tip of Washington County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Ryan Spang's middle finger. Spang testified Thursday that he stuck his hand out in an effort to protect Chan-Machic from the can.

Chan-Machic did not acknowledge that Ward threw the beer cans during his testimony Thursday.

Spang told the court that he had stopped the vehicle that Chan-Machic was riding in at the intersection of South Alpine Street and 10th Avenue in Cornelius on suspicion that the driver was impaired. Washington County sheriff's Deputy James Wheaton then took over the DUII investigation.

Spang and Wheaton realized that they needed an interpreter to communicate with the vehicle's occupants, and Ward, who speaks Spanish, was called from Hillsboro to assist.

At the location, Ward began speaking with Chan-Machic, 19, who denied that he had been drinking. Ward then found almost empty beer cans near the front passenger seat in the car, and began asking Chan-Machic about the cans.

Friday morning in court, Ward testified that he was trying to get Chan-Machic to admit to drinking to possibly get an additional furnishing alcohol to a minor charge on the driver. In doing so, Ward said he tossed the beer cans from the car in an attempt to capture Chan-Machic's attention and get him to answer his questions. The cans reportedly ricocheted off the car before striking Chan-Machic and Spang.

Wheaton and Spang, who testified as witnesses for the state, told the court that they were stunned by Ward's behavior. Ward appeared angry that night, Spang and Wheaton said, and after the incident, Spang reported Ward's conduct to the Hillsboro Police Department.

Ward acknowledged he was annoyed that Chan-Machic was denying drinking, but said he had no intention of striking either Chan-Machic or Spang. McElligott agreed.

He told Ward that he "was cranky" that night and that it was inappropriate for him, as an interpreter from another agency, to get involved in the DUII investigation. But neither action, McElligott concluded, is criminal.